Samsung Vibrant gets Android 2.2, after evil delay

Erica, 24th January 2011

After facing mounting criticism for its extremely slow pace of upgrading its T-Mobile Vibrant phone, Samsung is finally ready to deploy Android 2.2 to the device.

Samsung has become legendary for the amount of time it has taken to make Android 2.2 available for its line of Galaxy S Android phones, while rolling out numerous new phones with Android 2.2 pre-installed.

But none caught as much attention as the Vibrant, after rumors picked up that Samsung was intentionally preventing T-Mobile from releasing the update in a bid to spur sales for the Vibrant 4G, which is more expensive and has Android 2.2 natively built in. The story went that by not having Android 2.2 available, customers would avoid the Vibrant and be willing to spend more to buy the Vibrant 4G, even if they didn't have 4G coverage in their area.

A quote from an anonymous T-Mobile tipster to the website AndroidSpin grew viral. "Samsung has NOT allowed us to push the update OTA for 2.2 because they feel it will decrease the value of the upcoming Vibrant 4G," said the source.

Samsung denied the allegations, saying the upgrade was technical in nature and was the subject of ongoing testing. Conveniently enough, though, the company announced a rollout schedule just days after the rumors began circulating.

Now, it says Vibrant customers will be able to grab the upgrade next week. A handful began receiving upgrade notifications last Friday, or 9 days after the intentional upgrade-blocking rumor was posted. [[Samsung]]